The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-05-25

Work-Tcathcr WORK
c.,.,.ioro-upon the left bank OF the
Pc Grande De Santiago JUST go '','''' -,
fro,n the CITY Of Mexico ana lt' i,.,',' %
a.. pociGc- has been called 'the 'hl'aso ~,
w.,i,o h.cause Of It's enterprise ana ,.'o''''
,deas II, present population is o"'''h"5 ~
dol as Q8 SO. and, though SD t'i""'o '',','
-. and little known to the outer W"ilu'
:. hos street cars. electric lights, tf i'"o"','
e.',.,..,.,n ~ water works, and other "1-
- ~ an advanced civilization II lies III
a. midst of n region so ferule-whefe iru''S'
,,or.ol. and vegetables grow I'D astonishing
~,.,.1o,c. fbot the outlying hncienuaS
- 81 i,b rs fftv bushels of corn % the
-. twice i'm every year, the first crop h"l"e
PLANTED i'm February and the second III july
m. ,;,v boasts of mo fewer than fourteen
leo moro than a dozen public fountains,
;nnr,nerohle churches, "a fine opera house ana
,..,..-ol theatres. an elegant casino or cIun
bouse. mint. a city hall, a splcndlH uhi'''
s;,y ana the only academy of line arts hn
Mexico. except that Of San carlos a' WV
,oti,pai cap.ial. The grand cathedral "a
magnificent structure situated on lhe l'1"
he Armas-was completed IN JOS puV iN
on,er appearance was greatly impaired ny tuv
eartbonake Of ISIS, which destroyed the
cuuolas Of both It's towers.
From the top Of the cathedral tower the
lover Of the picturesque may obtain we"
which will delight his soul One thihg 'i"'
viii probably strike him with surprise II ne"
a. Mexican cities, is the absence OF chHnneys'
which i'm other countries form so prominent
feature 81 siich views In all this sunny
country there is no such thing rs a stove OF
frenlaco houce no chimueys In Jallsco the
temrera,ure remains at about 40 deg from
wear 10 wear. and, though the traveller VIII
feel inclined 10 keep in the shade at MONDAY
he sbonA wear flannel Undertaking con
s,antly and light overcOat in the evening
The cooking Is all done wlth charcoal ~
Dn,ch ovens built out Of doors or IN eaftheh
pots similar % our large sized plant jars
partly filed with Goals upon which smaller
lars are placed Chimneys would be super
Unity for nobody wants fire IN the house
with the thermometer never below the seven
ties. and for the same reason be OBJECTS 10
inclosing himself in "a conservatory by put
ting glass in his windows when all the winds
Of heaven are welcome But though he
should want it never SO badly, fuel enough to
run one Of our wasteful cooking machines
would he entirely out Of the question, since
coal--which is mostly imported from England
costs So per ton and wood $50 per cord.
Gasoline is unobtainable, and petroleum sells
for 81 p per gallon.
Various trades are carried on in Guadala-
lara with great success, particularly silver
smithing. blacksmithing. and carpenierng.
81. g.. .tt tlpea ~ iron steel
glass. and a peculiar kind Of pottery, are
celebrated all over the republic. Indeed, the
fame Of "Guadalajara pottery" is world wide.
There are the queerest designs Of carafes, odd
water Jugs with two spouts or one, jars,
mugs, pitchers with long noses and stubby
handles, etc, made Of baked clay, highly
glazed, with black, pale gray or dark red
ground, painted with impossible flowers and
figures which ii would be no violation Of the
second commandment % worship, all quaint
enough % rank high I'm any collection Of
ceramics When new this ware imparts to
the water it contains strange flavor, which
is greatly relished 10y the Mexicans, but a.
much disliked by most other people.
The gayest Of serapes and the finest Of
rebosos are also manufactured hcreabouiS;
also paper and printed calico. The flhgee
work of the Guadalajara jewellers is SIMPLY
wonderful. and may be seen any day in every
stage Of progress, because in all tropical
countries as in the far east, the majority Of
workmen follow their vocations in the open
air The gold and silversmiths ply their
intricate trade outside their little shops, on
the street corners anywhere, undisturbed by
the dust and confusion around them They
make exquisite bits of onamentatiOn of the
gold known in commerce as "etruscan,"
meaning the dark. rich, reddish yellow
variety. These works are much more pOpu-
lar in Europe than on this continent, and
across the Atlantic no collection of jewels OF
ornaments is considered complete without
"A set Of Mexican fihgree work. At every
street corner are little stands where genuine
treasures in the way Of antique lewelry or
exquisite specimens of fligree work may be
bought for IA song There are bracelets, neck
laces, combs, earrings, cruciiiXes-in short,
every imaginable device-some set with
the beautiful opals Of Queretaro OF pearls
from the California gulf or topazes,
amethysts, garnetS, "cats' eyes from other
portions Of Mexico
The Guadalajaran wood carvers are also
famed for the beauty Of their workmanship
In hundred little shops we find swarthy
workmen patiently carving bits Of wood into
wonderful rOsaries every bead of which
shows a miniature picture Of some scriptural
scene, heads which are really perfect portraits
for the tips of canes and umbrellas, rings,
boxes, cigarette cases, buttons etc The cane
caryers, who have over 3OO varieties of rich
native wood 90 chose from. produce some
wonderful sticks. and many of the most tex
quisite umbrella and parasol handles known
% commerce are wrought by these unknown
and poorly paid workmen
Mexican gold and silver embroidery, thread
lace. draw work and intricate needle work
also command universal admiration But the
richest and most curious Of all is the plumaje
or feather work, which is made only in
Mexico and nowhere better than in Guadala-
Jara-the secret Of which is known only 10
certain families in which It has been pre-
served for centuries In this city there are
elegant mansions decorated something as were
Moniezuma's palaces with feather work the
most elaborate, which is neither tapestry nor
applique nor Is 1t woven into or sewn upon